Growing Plants With Artificial Light 2

Posted on April 1, 2017

Purpose AND Objectives

The main propose of this experiment is to learn more about how plants can survive and grow to maturity without being exposed to sunlight. This experiment is a continuation of my earler Experiment - Growing With Light. This time on a bigger scale and with more accurate data and equipment.The following are some of the objectives for this project:

To lean more about how plants convert light during photosynthesis

To learn about different types of light which are used in plant germination & growth

To learn about Automation and Data Mining

To increase my programming skills in small embedded hardware.

Apparatus and Tools Used

Software

Linux OS

Arduino Programming Language

Python 3.2

C for Linux

Hardware

Laptop/Desktop

Arduino

Raspberry Pi ModelB

Relay

Water Pump

Water Flow Valves

Fish Tank

Plants

Water

Theoretical background

After successfully running Growing With Light an experiment that saw the growth of bean plants with CFL Light I decided to run it on a bigger scale with big data. This experiment main goal is to remain self sufficient with only the addition of water to set the system running.

Grow With Light 2 will be running next to my computer in my lab and this feeling of having a system running on its own while working/studying remains one of the reasons why I decided to embark on my project. The system will have 3 inputs: Water, Power & Fish Food. It will have one output: Water. The water that the fish has used up will be pumped down to the plants which need the nutrients from the fish’s waste water. Excess water will be pumped to outside vegetation which need the water too.

At the same time, another pump will replenish the water in the fish tank and the system will keep on doing this at strict time-lapses. Sensory equipment will make sure that the fish is not left dry and also the plants are kept moist, light is switched ON/OFF are correct time zones.

The Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen is a Group 15, Period 2 Element and has an Atomic Number of 7.
Nitrogen is a colorless gas/liquid and has an atomic weight of 14.000.
It occupies 78.04% of the amount of air in the atomsphere while Oxygen
just takes 20.9%.

▲ The Nitrogen Cycle

The Nitrogen cyle is a biogeochemical cycle by which Nitrogen is
converted into varous chemical forms as it moves from the atmosphere
into marine life. Nitrogen is introduced in the fish food. Ammonia is the excreeted by the
fish. Nirtosomus bateria then convert the Ammonia into Nitrites. Under
the ocean bed, Nicrobactor bacteria then convert Nitrite to Nitrate. The
plants in the water then take up the Nitrates as fertilizer.

It is worth noting that fish realease 80% Ammonia via the gills and 17%
Ammonia via the feaces.

Images

These are some of the project’s images taken so far.

▲ The fish tank ready. Water for the plants will be from this resevour. The tank has 2 fishes.
▲ Inside the fish tank. The black cylindical object in the background is one of the 2 water filters that I designed.
▲ The fish tank at night. I added dome LEDs go give it a good apearance at night.
▲ Plants watering system. Recently I have started installing the piping that will direct water to the plants.
▲ Seeds of success. I dont know how successful these seeds are but am going to grow them in one of the troughs.

Thats all for now, I will publish more updates once I get to the planting and growing section of the project. Be sure to check out
my github repo for this project to get more updates.